In the past months, Kinlochleven High School has seen many changes prompted by the new Head Teacher Ms Machin. The most apparent change for us, the seniors of the school, is the reorganisation of the 6th year prefect structure. Up until recently every 6th year was made a prefect, with all the responsibilities that follow, by default and all the prefects were expected to work together without any set roles. These responsibilities included organising school dances and inter house competitions. Now, Kinlochleven has an S6 leadership team. This team consists of 2 School Captains, myself and Rebekah Gunn, 3 House Captains, Stephen McGuire, Thomas Rowe and Laura McIntyre, as well as an Events Prefect and a Pupil Support Prefect for each house (Brittany Fordham, Sarah Campbell and Jack Deaynes as Events Prefects, Hayley McCallum, Tyna Reimerova and Lauren Taylor as Pupil Support Prefects). This is as well as a Sports Captain, Mikey Maclean, for the whole school. The School Captains duty is to lead the House Captains in their duties as well contribute to the work of the whole school, including school funds and PTTF meetings etc and to lead the House Captains in their role organising their houses and House Prefects. Within the houses there is an Events Prefect to organise dances and whole school events such as the Zombie Apocalypse, and a Pupil Support Prefect to run drop in advice centres at lunchtimes for the younger members of the school. This system not only encourages the 6th years to take more responsibility within the school, but also allows the 6th years to contribute to an area they feel most appropriate for themselves therefore increasing the effectiveness of the prefect team. It also adds an element of role modelling and makes the 6th years more approachable for the younger members of the school. Of course the leadership team has only been in place for a few weeks but so far has been a success! Esme Leitch

Thursday 1st July saw Kinlochleven High School’s annual cross-country running competition. The lap is approximately two miles long and all pupils are encouraged to take part in order to earn points for their school house. Pupils can choose to take part as competitively as they like with some running the mountainous terrain trying to come first or beat their personal best but others walking it just as a fun excuse to get out of class and enjoy the sun! This year, the course, that covers some of the scenic hills around the back of Kinlochleven, was in great condition due to the good weather. However the sun was both a help and hindrance to the runners this year. Even though it prevented the steep single track become slippery and muddy but also created harsh running conditions. The athletes not only had to run the challenging course but do it whilst coping with the close to 30 degree heat! So maybe the fact that the run collided with the hottest day of the year so far was a nice coincident for the spectators waiting at the finish line, but for the runners, not such a good thing This year’s fastest time went to the senior male, cycling champion, Stephen Dent, aged 16, with an amazing time of 14.40. Despite his early disclosure not to run, his natural competitive nature could not be resisted. As shown in this race, his physical fitness not only applies to road cycling where his excellence can be shown in his recent triumph as Scottish 500m champion, but also to cross–country running. Athleticism clearly runs strong in the Dent gene, as Stephen’s younger brother Alex, aged 13, achieved the fastest time in the junior category, with the course covered in an impressive 15.20. There was no less excitement in the female category of the race with Hannah Newson winning Senior Girl and Freyja Ward taking Junior Girl with great times of, 17.10 and 21.51 , respectively. Hannah Newson’s time is also a new record for the senior girl category! Awards will be given at Friday’s Celebration of Success, by Head Teacher Mrs Machin, in front of all of Kinlochleven High School and parents before the pupils go on their summer holiday. As the sun sets on the hills over Kinlochleven and Mr Duggan, Music Teacher –come- Race Coordinator, hangs up his route cards, students can only now look forward to the of next year’s cross country. by Esme Leitch